Geoff,

While we have you on this thread, could you tell me your opinion about adding a second BeoLab 2 to a BeoSystem 3 system including the following:

BeoLab 8000s for fronts

BeoLab 10 for center

BeoLab 8000s for surrounds

Beolab 6000s for rears

BeoLab 2 for subwoofer

Would adding a second BeoLab 2 improve the sound? What would be the ideal placement for 2 subwoofers? Would it be ill-advised to mix subwoofers, such as having a BeoLab 2 with a BeoLab 19?

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Hi all!

Thanks for the many responses, particularly Geoff for the relevant technical perspective on doing this.

I actually wrote a reply as soon as I plugged it in and turned it up, but it was somehow lost in the ether, which is probably a good thing because it was an emotional response!! I can't stop listening to music all of a sudden!

My first impressions were shock and disbelief, because of the physical impact I was suddenly accessing! I was expecting it to be messy and over the top.

My setup is aesthetically awful, I know, this is a temporary solution, we just got a kitten so they're in this small room and out of paws reach! I've always been a little underwhelmed with the visceral impact the bl9s have in the lower end at higher volumes, going from bl1s...

Anyway, I'm surprisingly very happy with this setup having the BL2 assisting on the side! I have the bass turned down on the Beosound, from 0 to -2 and the BL2 is on its lower settings (corner and setup 2, - setup 1 was too loud for me). I've been wavering between setup 3 and 2 on the BL2 actually.

I've had a bit of a play around and I've listened (using the B&O Active Listening III CD) with and without the BL2 plugged in, there is a mild difference at lower volumes where the bl2 seems to discretely cover what the bl9s are missing, it's when I turn the music up much louder that the difference is earth-shattering, erring on emotional!

It's a more relentless sound now and is a great improvement when at full blast (well up to VOL 62 anyway) and I'm outside doing gardening... My theory is that the BL9s are working slightly less hard having turned the bass down a little, but the BL2 adds a punchy element to the lower end and covers the notes in between that the BL9 doesn't reproduce as strongly in some tracks.

I strongly recommend you try this yourself if you have a BL2 and BL9s, especially if you're planning a party or turn your system up louder than what would be acceptable in a domestic environment! (my nearest neighbors are over 15kms away)

Summing up, adding the Beolab 2 has essentially added a more visceral (i hope that's the right word) element to listening without taking away from the BL9s, but it's subjective of course, and everyones tastes and setups are different. When i have my way I'll just have Beolab 5s.

Thanks for reading 😕

Jeff wrote:

But please, for the love of all that's holy don't say "fast." Well damped, fine, not fast. A fast woofer is called a tweeter.

I can't seem to find anywhere in this thread, someone saying "fast"

Dave wrote:

 

Login to view image

 

Hi all!

 

Thanks for the many responses, particularly Geoff for the relevant technical perspective on doing this.

I actually wrote a reply as soon as I plugged it in and turned it up, but it was somehow lost in the ether, which is probably a good thing because it was an emotional response!! I can't stop listening to music all of a sudden!

 

My first impressions were shock and disbelief, because of the physical impact I was suddenly accessing! I was expecting it to be messy and over the top.

My setup is aesthetically awful, I know, this is a temporary solution, we just got a kitten so they're in this small room and out of paws reach! I've always been a little underwhelmed with the visceral impact the bl9s have in the lower end at higher volumes, going from bl1s...

Anyway, I'm surprisingly very happy with this setup having the BL2 assisting on the side! I have the bass turned down on the Beosound, from 0 to -2 and the BL2 is on its lower settings (corner and setup 2, - setup 1 was too loud for me). I've been wavering between setup 3 and 2 on the BL2 actually.

 

I've had a bit of a play around and I've listened (using the B&O Active Listening III CD) with and without the BL2 plugged in, there is a mild difference at lower volumes where the bl2 seems to discretely cover what the bl9s are missing, it's when I turn the music up much louder that the difference is earth-shattering, erring on emotional!

It's a more relentless sound now and is a great improvement when at full blast (well up to VOL 62 anyway) and I'm outside doing gardening... My theory is that the BL9s are working slightly less hard having turned the bass down a little, but the BL2 adds a punchy element to the lower end and covers the notes in between that the BL9 doesn't reproduce as strongly in some tracks.

 

I strongly recommend you try this yourself if you have a BL2 and BL9s, especially if you're planning a party or turn your system up louder than what would be acceptable in a domestic environment! (my nearest neighbors are over 15kms away)

 

Summing up, adding the Beolab 2 has essentially added a more visceral (i hope that's the right word) element to listening without taking away from the BL9s, but it's subjective of course, and everyones tastes and setups are different. When i have my way I'll just have Beolab 5s.

 

Thanks for reading 😕

Hi Dave

Good to hear that the new kitty hasn't destroyed your HiFi!

it's only a guess, but I'd wager the sonic results you're getting are due the setup (kitty necessity) as shown in the photos.

The Lab 9's will not likely give of their best re bass response in that position.

I think if the positioning was more 'real life' then the differences between the Lab 9's and the Beolab 2 may not be as noticeable perhaps?

My lounge room in an apartment, is 5 x 4 metres, carpeted with concrete floor/ceiling, double brick walls and one end ⅔ floor to ceiling glass overlooking a balcony.

If I play a DTS HD Master Audio 7.1 Bluray movie via my V1 and the Lab 9's, at any more than about 60 - 62, it would only be a matter of time before the forces of law and order would possibly be knocking at the door at the behest of my neighbours; the LFE on such movies will rattle doors, windows, and anything 'loose' in the room such as ornaments, and make the sofa go all wobbly underneath one.

Of course, that's in my room, and all rooms differ, as do layouts and setups, so there may be an advantage to some situations (very large room perhaps, or one with stud and joist walls with plasterboard that will minutely flex and 'absorb' bass?) to 'add' the output of the Beolab 2 to the Lab 9's.

However as Geoff states, one Lab 9 is at least a 'match' technically for a Beolab 2, - and you have two Lab 9s, - so setup correctly and ideally in a suitable room, it's hard to say what would be best, but I would guess that you might then find the Beolab 2 redundant; certainly I would agree that more is not always better... quality over quantity perhaps.

But every situation is different and we each have to work with the limitations of rooms and spaces.

I'd be interested to hear how you feel about the combination once the kitty weaning period is over and you can set the speakers up in a sonically more ideal manner...

Kind regards

John.. 🙂

Agree John.  I've never come across a speaker where placement and surroundings are so important in achieving the best possible sound.  I was originally dissapointed with the BL9's until I played around a bit more with placement which took away that apparent lack of midrange that I was experiencing.

I was considering a BL2 in my setup but I don't watch enough movies to justify it.

My partner wants to get a cat, this thread has made a good case for me to make against getting one! :D

The conclusion seems to be:

If you want a kitten in your house, you will have to buy a BL2 😁

MM

99% of the energy you get from speakers is from the room that they're in, however this isn't a recording studio or an interior illusions lounge, it's merely a setup where the brief is - no B&O is going un appreciated despite the less than ideal arrangements! I'm chuffed, doing the gardening and all the other work outside has never been more fun with music, then when i'm relaxing i have a room to go to if i just want to close my eyes and listen to music. The best possible sound is sound that you enjoy. Having pets is the icing on the cake. So like I've said, adding BL2 = thumbs up from me!

Millemissen wrote:

The conclusion seems to be:

If you want a kitten in your house, you will have to buy a BL2 😁

MM

Nope! This was conceived from making use of an unplugged BL2. The bass response from the BL9's barely changed at all placing them up high, the conclusion is more likely to be, if you live in the middle of nowhere and have a listening position that varies between 2 metres and 100 metres away outside, a BL2 is an effective sidekick!

I must say - one kind of peculiar looking setup you have there.

But your explanation above tells us why.

How about making two 'kitten cages' for the 9's instead?

Might even be a new product for stbbrackets - the brandnew 'BeoLab Kitty Protection Cages' 😁

MM

Hi Dave,

Since we are making general comments on your set-up:  I know it's temporary, but looking at your arrangment of mains plugs I really think a single trailing socket extender would be far more asthetically pleasing, and actually much, much safer, especially with cats that may pull the wires around!  Just a thought!